The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency, 1) (edition 2017)

by John Scalzi (Author)

Series: The Interdependency (1)

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Faster than light travel is impossible--until the discovery of The Flow, an extradimensional field available at certain points in space-time, which can take us to other planets around other stars. Riding The Flow, humanity spreads to innumerable other worlds. Earth is forgotten. A new empire arises, the Interdependency, based on the doctrine that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It's a hedge against interstellar war--and, for the empire's rulers, a system of control. But when it's discovered that the entire Flow is moving, possibly separating all human worlds from one another forever, a scientist, a starship captain, and the emperox of the Interdependency must race to find out what can be salvaged from an empire on the brink of collapse. --… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	sidaroth
Title:	The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency, 1)
Authors:	John Scalzi (Author)
Info:	Tor Books (2017), Edition: 1st Edition, 336 pages
Collections:	Your library, Currently reading, To read
Rating:
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Work Information

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

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Behind the Throne by K. B. Wagers (reading_fox)
reading_fox: Both feature unexpected Empresses in a hard SF universe.

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▾Member reviews

English (119) Italian (1) German (1) All languages (121)

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Showing 1-5 of 119 (next | show all)

Unlike many of the Kindle Unlimited items I've read lately, this was enjoyable. A humorous, soft-scifi story with just a bit of action. It's very much a "first book" in a series in that it doesn't resolve anything. It's all build-up and setting the stage for later, ending on a note of suspense. That's not to say it has a cliffhanger ending because nobody is actually in the midst of falling to their death, but no thread of the story ... action, romantic, social, whatever ... is resolved. That's good; I think cliffhanger endings are signs of author laziness and/or insecurity.

There are some good characters with which to work in later volumes. Some are a bit caricature-like, notably Kiva, but you can roll your eyes and enjoy them, nonetheless.

Somebody else mentioned H. Beam Piper and, yeah, I can sorta see that. (

)

TadAD | May 7, 2024 |

You can always count on John Scalzi to write a fantastic science fiction story. Interesting and fully-fleshed out characters, unique story, great world building, fun plot. And if you like audiobooks, this one is narrated by Wil Wheaton, so yay! (

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ardaiel | Mar 4, 2024 |

Had Scalzi not been contractually obligated to turn this book over, I would have preferred for him to wait and release it in combination with the sequel. This felt altogether too short (but quite enjoyable apart from that). (

)

Treebeard_404 | Jan 23, 2024 |

Another excellent tale from John saying yet another unique universe. Humans have spread out through space, but only because of something known as The Flow. The Interdependency requires it to survive, but it's changing. I loved it and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. (

)

GordCampbell | Dec 20, 2023 |

I described this to the Worcester Public Library as _Foundation "Lite"_. A good, quick read. Memorable characters. There's both a science plot, many human political plots, and human personal plots, all nicely interacting. There is a human empire spread across planets and space stations connected by The Flow, which enables space travel (which nicely, still takes time! It's not instantaneous), but it's shifting and changing, and not everyone knows this. The motivations, calculations, and machinations drive the plot. The ending is such that it's obvious that this is the start of a series (trilogy). (

)

AmyMacEvilly | Dec 20, 2023 |

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▾Published reviews

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thingScore 75

Scalzi continues to be almost insufferably good at his brand of fun but think-y sci-fi adventure.

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
John Scalzi	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Sparth	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Wheaton, Wil	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

The Interdependency (1)

Belongs to Publisher Series

L'Atalante - La Dentelle du Cygne

Is contained in

John Scalzi Collection 3 Books Set (The Collapsing Empire, The Consuming Fire, Head On) by John Scalzi

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Dragon Award (Finalist – Science Fiction Novel – 2017)

Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Shortlist – Roman étranger – 2020)

Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Shortlist – Roman étranger – 2022)

Hugo Award (Nominee – Novel – 2018)

Locus Award (Winner – Science Fiction Novel – 2018)

RUSA CODES Reading List (Winner – Science Fiction – 2018)

Notable Lists

Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Fiction – 2017)

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

The Collapsing Empire

Original title

The Collapsing Empire

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2017-03-23

People/Characters

Lady Kiva Lagos

Cardenia Wu-Patrick (Emperox Grayland II)

Lord Marce Claremont

Important places

End

Hub

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

To Tom Doherty, specifically, and everyone at Tor generally. Thanks for believing in me. Here's to the next decade. (At least.)

First words

The mutineers would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for the collapse of the Flow.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Hill, Joe

Original language

English

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

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▾Book descriptions

Faster than light travel is impossible--until the discovery of The Flow, an extradimensional field available at certain points in space-time, which can take us to other planets around other stars. Riding The Flow, humanity spreads to innumerable other worlds. Earth is forgotten. A new empire arises, the Interdependency, based on the doctrine that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It's a hedge against interstellar war--and, for the empire's rulers, a system of control. But when it's discovered that the entire Flow is moving, possibly separating all human worlds from one another forever, a scientist, a starship captain, and the emperox of the Interdependency must race to find out what can be salvaged from an empire on the brink of collapse. --

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Book description

Does the biggest threat lie within?

In the far future, humanity has left Earth to create a glorious empire. Now this interstellar network of worlds faces disaster - but can three individuals save their people?The empire''s outposts are utterly dependent on each other for resources, a safeguard against war, and a way its rulers can exert control. This relies on extra-dimensional pathways between the stars, connecting worlds. But 'The Flow' is changing course, which could plunge every colony into fatal isolation.A scientist will risk his life to inform the empire's ruler. A scion of a Merchant House stumbles upon conspirators seeking power. And the new Empress of the Interdependency must battle lies, rebellion and treason. Yet as they work to save a civilization on the brink of collapse, others have very different plans . . . The Collapsing Empire is an exciting space opera from John Scalzi.

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